Round 2: Carlos Romao vs. Kai Budde

Toby Wachter

This is the kind of battle of the titans that the Masters Series was designed for. At one end of the table, you have the current World Champion in Carlos Romao. Across from him is Kai Budde, the undisputed best Magic player in history. Needless to say, a match like this will gather a large crowd. Romao is playing what he carried to a World Championship- Psychatog. His version is running Shadowmage Infiltrator and Thieving Magpie to gain card advantage, as well as Deep Analysis. Playing these creatures also lets Romao use Cabal Therapy. Budde is playing Mirari's Wake.

Budde untapped, played Wrath of God, and copied it, clearing the board. Another Psychatog came into play. Budde started to go off with copying Cunning Wish, and Romao conceded.

Romao- 0 Budde- 1

Game 2

A first turn Duress stripped Cunning Wish From Budde's hand, leaving the German with nothing but land. That got a smile of surprise and confidence out of the World Champion. Another Duress was played on turn three, and Budde had drawn Wrath of God, Deep Analysis and Chastise; Analysis was sent to the graveyard. Budde's draw was less than stellar, but Romao's wasn't much better as he missed his fourth land drop. Meanwhile, Budde sacrificed a Verge and flashed back Deep Analysis to get some more resources. Romao found a fourth land, and tapped out for his own Analysis, which gave Budde an opportunity to resolve Compulsion.

Haunting Echoes was attempted but shrugged off with Memory Lapse. On the next turn Romao flashed back an Analysis, and tapped out to hardcast another, leaving him with only a swamp left. This gave Budde the green light to start going off, and he got two elephants into play with Elephant Ambush. Psychatog wasn't going to help, and Romao conceded.